Space Vocab

Question 1

Universe

Answer 1

Space and all the matter in it

Question 2

Meteorite

Answer 2

A small object from outer apace that passes through Earth’s atmosphere and reaches the surface

Question 3

Quarter Moon

Answer 3

Half of the moon is illuminated

Question 4

New Moon

Answer 4

The entire surface of the moon is not illuminated

Question 5

Astronomical unit

Answer 5

Average distance from the sun which is 93,000,000 miles

Question 6

Revolution

Answer 6

The motion of one body around another, such as the Earth in its orbit around the sun

Question 7

Crescent moon

Answer 7

The illuminated surface is less that a quarter illuminated

Question 8

Prenumbra

Answer 8

A region of lighter shadow that may surround a dark central region

Question 9

Mare

Answer 9

A large dark plain of solidified lava in the moon

Question 10

Galaxy

Answer 10

Million and billions of stars held together in a group by their own gravity

Question 11

Umbra

Answer 11

Dark central region of a shadow such as the cone of complete shadow cast by an object

Question 12

Comet

Answer 12

A body that produces a coma of gas and dust, a small icy body that orbits the sun

Question 13

Eclipse

Answer 13

An event during which and object in space casts a shadow onto another

Question 14

Gibbous moon

Answer 14

More than half but less then fully illuminated

Question 15

Orbit

Answer 15

The path of an object in space as it moves around another object due to gravity

Question 16

Heliocentric theory

Answer 16

A sun centered theory of the universe

Question 17

Tide

Answer 17

The rise and fall of the ocean caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun

Question 18

Waning

Answer 18

The gradual decrease in the illuminated surface of the moon

Question 19

Geocentric theory

Answer 19

Earth centered theory of the solar system

Question 20

Ellipse

Answer 20

An oval or flattened circle

Question 21

Season

Answer 21

One of a pattern of temperature changes and other weather trends over the course of a year

Question 22

Gravity

Answer 22

The force that objects exert on one another because of their mass

Question 23

Impact crater

Answer 23

A round pit left behind on the surface of a planet after a smaller object strikes the surface

Question 24

Solar system

Answer 24

The sun and its family of orbiting planets and moons and other objects

Question 25

Gas giant

Answer 25

A large planet that consists mostly of gases in a dense form

Question 26

Equinox

Answer 26

In an orbit, a position and time in which sun shines equally on both hemispheres

Question 27

Asteroid

Answer 27

A small solid rocky body that orbits the sun

Question 28

Full moon

Answer 28

The entire surface of the moon is illuminated

Question 29

Solstice

Answer 29

In an orbit, a position and time during which one hemisphere receives the maximum sunlight

Question 30

Satellite

Answer 30

An object that orbits a more massive object

Question 31

The gradual increase of the illuminated surface of the moon

Answer 31

Waxing

Question 32

Meteor

Answer 32

A brief streak of light produced by a particle entering Earths atmosphere at high speed

Question 33

Terrestrial planet

Answer 33

A planet that has a rocky surface

Question 34

Axis of Rotation

Answer 34

An imaginary line about which a turning body suck as Earth rotates